The Argosy — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

80 After Years of Waiting. The profound wonder in her voice made him hesitate. “I have heard of your engagement to Mr. Worthington.” “Who has told you ¢#at?” she asked. But in the same moment Richard Worthington stepped through the low window, and came toward them. “‘T have been searching for you everywhere,” he said, laughing in his boyish, good-natured way. ‘It’s my dance, most respected cousin Millicent.” And she. was forced to go, without another word to the man beside her. “Have you and Mr. Thornbury been quarrelling?” said Richard ; who, to do him justice, was entirely innocent of any thought of Mrs. Kathlane, or of anybody else, as a wife. ‘‘He looked black as a thunder-cloud, and you are pale.” ‘‘T was a little faint after the waltz,” she answered. ‘“ Don't tease me, Dick;” and so Richard desisted from his inquiries. Meanwhile Rupert Thornbury, left alone with only his own thoughts for company, sat as utterly and entirely wretched asa man can feel but once in his lifetime. Inside the rooms the music kept untiringly on; the gay dancers floated past the windows ; every face was bright with smiles. Outside here, in the darkness, a man sat alone, struggling bravely to lift his cross and bear it uncomplainingly. How long he sat there he knew not, but at last he roused himself, and rose to his feet. “I must go back,” he said. “ Cornelia Granger will have a delicate bit of gossip if she sees me here.” So he went in and showed himself, and said a few words to Miss Granger, and strolled about he knew not whither, talking to one, talking to another; and presently found himself up stairs near the library. The library door was ajar, and as he entered, a little figure all in silvery blue and soft white lace, with scarlet buds glowing and burning here and there, turned and advanced a step toward him. There were tears in the great black eyes, and the red lips were trembling like a grieved child’s. | ‘‘ Was it untrue, Millicent?” ‘Every word of it. Dick, indeed! Oh, Rupert!” He clasped her hands almost rudely. “You are not engaged ?” | Only a look answered him. He caught her to him, pouring forth all the sweet love-vows that he had sensitively refrained from before : and Millicent whispered that she never should be engaged, unless it was to him. A pity but Miss Cornelia Granger had chanced to look into the library. After waiting so many years] Eomichbooks.co . ; _ ”